CultureEight of the best films of 2026 so farBBC film critics Caryn James and Nicholas Barber pick their cinema highlights of the year so far – from a touching sci-fi blockbuster to a provocative comedy-drama starring Zendaya.Coachella kicks off with Sabrina Carpenter and surprise guestsThe festival in California was also forced to cancel a set by DJ Anyma on Friday because of strong winds.Ralph Fiennes reveals whether he would return to Harry Potter role The British actor played the villainous character in the original movie franchise from 2005 to 2011. An inappropriate joke nearly ended his career. Now he's back with more humourA misfired joke nearly derailed Samay Raina’s comedy career. Now he’s back, reclaiming his voice.'You are my god', Japan's PM tells British rock band Deep PurpleHard rock enthusiast Sanae Takaichi beamed as she met the rockers in her Tokyo office.DocumentariesDisco: Soundtrack of a RevolutionBecoming Frida KahloLost Temples of CambodiaTales from the Royal BedchamberThe Real Mo FarahRome: What Lies BeneathABBA: Against the OddsIn Search of the BrontësItaly's Invisible CitiesChina: 1000 Years of HistoryA History of BritainMichela's Tuscan KitchenPicasso: The Beauty and the BeastDavid Harewood on Blackface: The Hidden History of MinstrelsyEntertainment news Balamory is back - Miss Hoolie and PC Plum lift the lid on what to expectEamonn Holmes recovering in hospital after strokeYour guide to the UK's music festival season for summer 2026Bafta fell short in duty of care when racial slur was shouted, review findsDesert Island DiscsDesert Island DiscsJessie Buckley, actorSaveDesert Island DiscsDwayne Fields, explorerSaveDesert Island DiscsRoula Khalaf, journalistSaveDesert Island DiscsRichard Young, photographerSaveDesert Island DiscsTahra Zafar, costume and effects designerSaveDesert Island DiscsProfessor Michele Dougherty, scientistSaveDesert Island DiscsKemi Badenoch MP, leader of the oppositionSaveDesert Island DiscsAdeel Akhtar, actorSaveDesert Island DiscsJesse Armstrong, writerSaveDesert Island DiscsPatricia GreeneSaveWatch list10 of the best TV shows of 2026 so farFrom a Ryan Murphy body horror to an ingenious James Bond-themed comedy-drama and the latest Game of Thrones prequel, we pick the year's greatest programmes to stream right now.12 of the best TV shows to watch this AprilFrom the return of Sydney Sweeney and Zendaya in HBO's provocative drama Euphoria to the latest show from Baby Reindeer's creator and the comeback of sitcom classic Malcolm in the Middle.From our Culture editorsWhy this 16th-Century painting isn't what it seemsOverpainted images hidden inside Raphael's 16th-Century Portrait of a Young Woman with a Unicorn show how the image of the ideal woman has been carefully controlled by men.Euphoria has 'lost its zeitgeisty edge' ★★☆☆☆Four years on, the provocative HBO drama is back, with Zendaya, Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney all returning. Unfortunately, though, "it has become a series with very little to say".The scientist who developed the polio vaccineOn 12 April 1955, Dr Jonas Salk announced that his vaccine was safe and effective – but he refused to profit from it.Why Chow Yun-Fat is cinema's greatest action heroThe Hong Kong actor made a series of films with director John Woo that revolutionised the action genre – and key to them was his beguiling mixture of toughness and tenderness.The genius of The Sopranos' most shocking episodeIn 2006, The Sopranos' season six opener gave viewers two of the most startling scenes in television history. Twenty years on, here's why it's time to reconsider Members Only.The centuries-old origins of current fairy fictionThe fairies in erotic "fae" romantasy are not cute or benevolent. They are dangerous, shape-shifting beings, exactly what they were in historic folklore, according to a new book.In HistoryHow the Unabomber was unmasked by his own writingThe Unabomber's campaign of violence had baffled investigators for almost two decades. The BBC reported on his arrest 30 years ago, when he "laid a trail to his own front door".How a WW2 general outwitted his arch-rivalField Marshal Bernard Montgomery died 50 years ago. In 1968, he told the BBC about the Battle of El Alamein, and his German counterpart Erwin Rommel.The shocking kidnap of a teenage newspaper heiressPatty Hearst was abducted by a revolutionary group in 1974, as reported by the BBC. But 50 years ago, on 20 March 1976, she was found guilty of siding with her captors.The suburban spies who sold secrets to the USSRThe Portland spy ring trial began on 13 March 1961. The BBC reported on a Cold War tale of espionage, adultery, exorcism – and a deceptively ordinary-looking bungalow.The Churchill speech that launched the Cold WarIn 1946, less than a year after the end of World War Two, Britain's wartime leader sounded an urgent warning about the Soviet threat to the West.'An enormous inner desolation': The darkness behind LS Lowry's city scenesIn 1957, the painter showed the BBC how he built up his pictures of industrial urban life from his imagination, and described the loneliness that informed them.WatchJacob Elordi turned an insult into an Oscar nominationJacob Elordi jokes about an early career review calling him so wooden he could only play Frankenstein's monster.Film & TVTop Oscars picks chosen by BBC correspondentsFrom the "achingly beautiful" cinema of Iran to a "stress‑busting" horror film – these are the top Oscars picks of the year, as chosen by BBC correspondents.Film & TVFixing fashion's erratic sizing problemTech Now meets a startup trying to fix one of the fashion industry's biggest blind spots: inconsistent sizing.Tech NowMargot Robbie's accent was 'too Australian' for NeighboursThe actress reveals that she had a dialect coach when she was on the series because her accent was so strong.Film & TVRachel McAdams has many fans on the sofaChris Hemsworth, Halle Berry and John Bishop tell Rachel McAdams why they love her films.Film & TVIdris Elba used his waxwork figure to unlock his phoneThe actor's Madame Tussauds waxwork is so lifelike that it was able to unlock his phone with Face ID.Film & TVArnold Schwarzenegger goes big on ChristmasChris Pratt talks about this year's unique present from Arnold Schwarzenegger that will be hard to re-gift.Film & TVDissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi speaks to the BBCAcclaimed director Jafar Panahi tells the BBC he sees his films as a historical memory of the realities in Iran.Film & TVHow Tom Hiddleston's dad became his biggest cheerleaderInitially sceptical of his career, the actor recalls his father’s reaction to one of his early roles.Film & TVOlsen and Teller talk British phrases they don't understandThe two actors talk to Radio 1's Ali Plumb about the complexities of the British vernacular.Film & TVMore cultureJust nowFloating studio aims to get youngsters into artThe boat is due to moor up in Birmingham and the surrounding areas, Wolverhampton and Coventry.Just now9 mins agoHistoric city prepares for drum and bass bike raveDom Whiting's Drum & Bass On The Bike will start from the Clarendon Building on Broad Street.9 mins ago11 mins agoSnazaroo: A story of love, loss and successThe deeply personal story of a globally-known face paint brand inspires a new New York play.11 mins ago15 mins agoKnox items feature in refreshed art galleryTwo Archibald Knox pieces recently donated to Manx National Heritage feature in the reopened space.15 mins ago37 mins agoRare portrait sparks identity questResearch is underway to uncover the identity of two teenagers in 17th Century portrait.37 mins ago1 hr agoAnglo-Saxon 'Woden ring' to go on display The finely-worked band was discovered by Dean Young, who is "over the moon" it is going on display.1 hr ago14 hrs agoJools Holland praises musician for cancer campaignDave Land says he wants to encourage more men to get checked for prostate cancer.14 hrs ago17 hrs agoCathedral to exhibit 80m long knitted WW2 artworkCreated by makers across the world, the hand‑crafted artwork explores life from 1939 to 1945.17 hrs ago19 hrs agoThe Box celebrates 'record-breaking' yearStaff said they welcomed 356,000 visits in the 2025/2026 season, beating a 300,000 annual target.19 hrs ago22 hrs agoIris Murdoch's lost poems to be read at festivalRecently discovered material from the Oxford novelist will be included in the Think Human festival.22 hrs ago24 hrs agoDemolished landmark hotel sign turned into artSwallow Hotel in Stockton was demolished in 2023 to make way for an urban park development.24 hrs ago1 day agoRoman links to be 'reimagined' with museum grantReading Museum to use £80,000 government award to celebrate historic Roman links.1 day ago1 day agoFarewell to a 'real gem' of a museum after 45 yearsA small south of Scotland museum - part of the visitor landscape for decades - is set to close.1 day ago2 days agoCafe bar part of £5m city's museum revampThe new facility will be located in the foyer area of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Hanley.2 days ago2 days agoKatherine LaNasa on finding success in her 50sKatherine LaNasa shared how she felt winning an Emmy aged 56.2 days ago...